The use of surgery in displaced scapular neck fractures

To evaluate the use of surgical management in displaced scapular neck fractures.

14 adult male patients (average age 34 years, range 19-44) with displaced scapular neck fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation in Al-Jahra Hospital, Kuwait from April 2000 to January 2004. Patients' clinical and radiological results were analyzed retrospectively.

The average follow-up was 20 months (range 6-30 months). Anatomical or near-anatomical reduction of the fracture with excellent clinical function was obtained in 12 patients (86%) and with good functional outcome in 2 patients (14%). One patient with associated head injury developed heterotopic ossification connected to the lateral border of the scapula.

The results of this report show that open reduction and internal fixation of grossly displaced scapular neck fractures are the treatment of choice for these injuries to restore the normal biomechanics of both glenohumeral and scapulothoracic joints and allow favorable clinical outcome.